Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-01-29
A CELEBRATED" CASE.


It would not have assumed its present
threatening dimensions. Unless the
congregation of st. Stephens submit to
the appointment of DIR. Donnelly, the
church will be interdicted and closed at
short notice. 1t does seem unjust that
SO large a congregation, after having
built and paid for their church property,
and been acceptably served for twenty
years by their beloved pastor, should be
put out of their church by police force
and forbidden to hold meetings for the
expression of their wishes in a matter
that concerns them spiritually and tenn
porally. Still, the most magnificent
cathedral in the United States was built
by the savings of Irish servant girls, but
its foremost occupation is by all the
grandeur of worldly wealth and station.
The evil to the church and the harm
to religion by misrepresentation, misun-
Outstanding, appeal to passion and pref
udice, in ecclesiastical conflicts of such
prominence and such proportions, can
not be remedied in the lifetime of the
persons involved, and does not even die
out but lives after them. The influences
of religion are weakened, and the res
pect for the ministry is diminished. The
personal, political and religious mixture
puts 1t in worse shape and more easily
misconstrued light than if the question
was purely one of church authority.
There are outside facts that cannot be
denied. Why was not DIR. McGlynn sus-
pended or even cersured for taking part
in Cleveland's election ]? Reasonably be-
cause his superiors were in sympathy
with that movement, since the church
had secured valuable legislation through
the Tammany faction of that party, and
hostile attitude would have defeated
the possibility of future action. The
Tammany bosses never had any use for
DR.. McGlynn's supporters, for there was
no political simon-purity in them and
too much independence. Taking part in
an underlined labor movement or tread
ing upon more heretical Republican
grounds, are sufficient causes of war all
along the opposition lines. There is no
sounder Church doctrine than unity in
essentials, and if it be essential in this
case for a church to drop Henry
George, it is just as essential to keep
hands off of Grover Cleveland and James
G. Blaine and for every attack upon
Cleveland from church quarters there
were ninety mine upon Blaine; if taking
part in Cleveland politics by the clergy
be non-essential, then where is the liber
ty allowed DIR. McGIynn in one instance
and not in another and if charity is to
be extended in all things, the world will
look with disappointment upon many a
modern st. Paul.
Archbishop Corrigan is right in enforc-
ing church discipline among clergy or
laity who have by VOW or profession of
faith rendered themselves subject to their
superiors, but i'll this case he is inconsis-
tently SO. It's the Sumter of struggle
that can no longer be avoided. In poiit-
ical ideas this is revolutionary country.
A government of the people brooks no
opposition, and proposed remedies of re-
lief from oppression are not considered
from any standpoint of religion, usage
or custom, but from force of necessity.
In all changes the church is cautious and
slow to move, and is rather willing to
leave well enough alone. The labor agi
tation in this country has not yet assum.
ed soundness or character sufficient to
foretell where it will lead, whether into
a land of promise or reign of terror.
Until then the church will oppose the
present labor movements, even did she
approve of the desired end, which on the
contrary she does not; and the moment
the labor organizations take any stand
of political action they will meet with
opposition as far as affects her members.
This is proven in the part taken in the
slavery cause. For ages her influence
was eXerted against the system, yet the
South had no warmer sympathizers than
the religious body in question, either
from the fear that the last end of slavery
would be worse than the first; or because
the church's political schooling in Amer
lea was more pronounced and more
deeply rooted than her religious convic-
tons of ages. The fact that she stack
together through all the diversity of
political and religious opinion incident
to the Rebellion, is proof enough that she
will resist the strains of every possibl
future emergency, though some few may
fall by the wayside of arbitrary eccles-
iasticism or personal inconsistency in
politics. Whether DIR. McGlynn goes to
Canossa or not, the labor question will
right itself and stand or fall upon its
own merits. At least the good sense SO
far displayed by the American people,
without regard to faith or politics, justi-
fies us in the expression of this belief.
DIR. McGlynn is seriously i'll ST. Stephens is
under police surveillance; the Archbishop has
prohibited all those under him from speaking
of the case in public; and various groundleSs
rumors are atloat as to the finalsynding up of
the matter. Our humble opinion is that some
thing more serious should have been the cause
off question that has assumed international
Importance than the merely taking part in an
underlined labor movement. AS many priests
as wish take the floor In the Irish land move
ment. which also involves a question of indi-
vfdual or more common ownership, and not
man of them has been suspended. In this
country quite q number of priests openly ad-
vocated Blaine, and ten times as many more
took up for Cleveland. When the Austrian
nilsson trouble confronted our government,
priests, churches. and societies resolved them
selves into the Kelly political arena, and not
a word of criticism was passed If 1t Is said
LInnp 20 lnlf ntr.a nArN
demned by Rome where is the proof,-where
the official evidence. True, the principles are
contrary to the teachings OF the Church; SO
are the principles underlying every govern
ment OF Europe, all of which have been con-
demned In general, as dangerous to faith and
morals, yet none in particular, for She main
tains an0Clus UiUendi with all, Italy probably
excepted. Outside of religious matters Rome
Is governed by policy, and under an encourag-
Ing attitude towards this country the best re-
lations have existed, and the Church prosper
ed and multiplied as perhaps In no other ma
ton. Many things are not approved, but unless
they concern faith, morals, or tradition, ne
open opposition is made; and where essential
points are concerned the action is general and
binding upon the laity as well as the clergy
There can be no exception, no inconsistency
no favoritism mo Cleveland, no Blaine, nj
Henry George. If the latter's theories shoult
be brought before the tribunal of faith in. the
proper way, and be found dangerous to essen
tials and contrary to teaching and tradition
DIR. McGlynn and Archbishop Corrigan will
stand upon an equal non potestts footing. Until
then we all have our opinions. DIR. McGlynl
is n martyr in his own cause, and has the sym
pathy of the Catholic world while right he ii
wrong, for the authority of the Bishop is above
him and it must be obeyed, no matter how
much we may think sem political or semi-per
sonal influence had to do with 1t. The body
ecclesiastic from the highest to the lowest re
grets the religious uproar caused, and while
DIR. McGlynn's superiors will be sustained il
the enforcement of authority, they will scor,
few points anywhere for prudence and wisdom
What we say is not to be taken as an approva
of Henry Georges rawlings against the Church
or of DIR. McGlynns political course. Their,
are two sides to every question, and unit
there Is something definite to go by, we al
ways take the part of the under dog.
BALTIMORE, Jan. l9-The San has a specia
from Rome which says: Much astonish
ment is expressed in ecclesiastical circles a
the statement circulated in the United State
that Rome has condemned the teachings o
Henry George and that DR.. McGlynn has beer
censured for advocating them. 1t Is authorize
lively stated that EnnrQa Teachings have Ii